October 06. 2018 - January 31. 2019

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October 06. 2018 - January 31. 2019

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New Production La Bohème

Why have audiences been falling in love with La bohème for more than 100 years?

Because, in the most captivating music Puccini ever composed, he shows us exactly what love is about. Mimì and Rodolfo are young lovers we all understand, and when they suffer, our hearts break for them. Their romance ultimately leads to tragedy, but along the way are treasured moments of pure ecstasy. We get to know this endearing pair and their Bohemian friends, and we totally connect with their feelings. La bohème remains forever youthful, eternally fresh.

Language: Sung in Italian with projected English translations
Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes with 1 intermission
Location: Lyric Opera House

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Tears, laughter and a great deal of splendid.”

Chicago Tribune

Great singing to be heard.”

Chicago Sun-Times

The singing is simply gorgeous.”

CBS2

Puccini’s score, these singers—magic!”

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La bohème videos

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See what critics are saying about La bohème at Lyric Opera

Why have audience been falling in love with La bohème for more than 100 years?

Michael Fabiano on La bohème

Michael Fabiano (Rodolfo) talks about what makes Lyric's upcoming production of Puccini's La bohème so special and important for opera-goers.

Set Insights La bohème

Get a behind-the-scenes look at how we make it snow for Lyric Opera's production of La bohème.

Patter Up! Michael Fabiano

Tenor Michael Fabiano, who is making his Lyric Opera debut as Rodolfo in La bohème, talks first jobs, deep dish vs thin crust, and what game show he would compete on.

Danielle de Niese on La bohème

Soprano Danielle de Niese talks about the relatable relationships that develop in Puccini's La bohème.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Puccini's La bohème

Music from La bohème provided through generous arrangement with Warner Classics Music Group.

La bohème

by Giacomo Puccini

The music featured is generously furnished by Warner Classics.

"Che gelida manina!"

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"Quando m'en vo"

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La bohème

by Giacomo Puccini

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

© 2018/19 Lyric Opera Commentaries. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis. The music featured in Lyric Commentaries is generously furnished by Warner Classics.
A project of the Women’s Board

Commentary by Wynne Delacoma

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La bohème articles

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Opera on Broadway: La bohème vs. Rent

Whether you're an opera lover or a Broadway fanatic, you've probably heard by now that the 1996 musical Rent was loosely based on the 1896 opera La bohème.

Danielle de Niese Makes her Mark as Musetta in Puccini's La bohème

Surprisingly, Danielle de Niese had never portrayed Musetta until a few months ago in London, in the coproduction of La bohème that opens Lyric's season.

Conductor Domingo Hindoyan reveals the appeal of La bohème

As a child in Venezeula, Domingo Hindoyan had heard recordings of the famous arias from Puccini's beloved and perennially popular opera, La bohème.

Ring in the New Year with La bohème at Lyric

Maria Agresta and Michael Fabiano captured all hearts with their rapturous singing and passionate acting as Mimi and Rodolfo, the opera's central love couple. Here are some of the rave reviews they received.

Synopsis

The opera is set in Paris.

An attic in the Latin Quarter, Christmas Eve

Rodolfo and Marcello complain about the bitter cold. They need to light their stove: Marcello suggests using a chair, but Rodolfo offers themanuscript of the play he is writing. Colline enters and the remaining acts of the play are burned.

Schaunard enters with wood, food, and wine. He explains that an Englishman engaged him to play his violin to hasten the death of a parrot. The friends decide to go to eat in the Latin Quarter but are interrupted by Benoît, their landlord, who has come for the rent. They ply him with wine and Benoît boasts of his sexual prowess. The Bohemians pretend outrage at Benoît’s immorality and push him out.

Marcello, Colline, and Schaunard head to Café Momus, leaving Rodolfo behind to finish an article. There is a knock at the door. It is a young woman who asks for a light for her candle. She feels faint from climbing the stairs. As she is leaving, her candle flickers out again and she realizes that she has lost her key. Rodolfo’s candle also goes out and they search for her key in the moonlight. Rodolfo takes the young woman’s icy hand and tells her of his life as a poet. She tells him her name, Mimì, and describes her simple life as a flower embroiderer. Schaunard, Colline, and Marcello shout up to Rodolfo to hurry. Mimì asks if she may join them at the Café Momus. Rodolfo suggests they might stay in, but eventually they leave together singing of their love.
The Latin Quarter

Rodolfo and Mimì wander through the Christmas Eve crowds. Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends. When Mimì shows her new friends the bonnet Rodolfo has brought her, Marcello expresses cynicism about romance.

As they propose a toast, Marcello’s ex-girlfriend Musetta appears, accompanied by Alcindoro, her rich admirer. Agitated at being ignored by Marcello, Musetta launches into a song – to provoke and seduce him.She complains of a painful foot and dispatches Alcindoro to buy new shoes. The bill for supper arrives, but the Bohemians have already spent their money. Musetta places their bill on Alcindoro’s plate. A marching band arrives, and the Bohemians leave with Musetta. Alcindoro returns and is presented with the bill.
Outside the Barrière d’Enfer

Workers arrive from out of town to enter the city. From inside a tavern comes the voice of Musetta. Mimì appears, ill and wracked with coughing. She asks for Marcello. He tells her that he and Musetta are now living at the inn and that Rodolfo turned up in the night. Mimì explains that Rodolfo’s jealousy is destroying their relationship and he wants to leave her. Marcello advises Mimì to go, but she hides nearby.

Rodolfo comes out of the tavern and says he will break up with Mimì: her flirting has incensed him. Eventually, however, he reveals the real reason for their separation: she is so ill that his miserable poverty offers her nothing but the prospect of death. They hear Mimì crying and coughing. As Rodolfo rushes to her, Musetta’s laughter is heard and Marcello rushes into the tavern to see what she is doing. Mimì says farewell to Rodolfo, telling him that she will send a porter for her possessions. She proposes that he keep her bonnet as a memento of their love. Marcello and Musetta quarrel and separate. Rodolfo and Mimì decide to postpone their separation until the spring.
The attic, autumn

Marcello and Rodolfo taunt each other about their ex-lovers: Rodolfo has seen Musetta in a fine carriage and Marcello has seen Mimì dressed like a queen. They pretend not to miss their lovers, but then admit that they do. Schaunard and Colline arrive with bread and a herring and the four eat and amuse each other.

Suddenly Musetta enters. She has brought Mimì, who is desperately ill. Musetta explains that she met her in the street and that Mimì begged to be taken to Rodolfo. Mimì rallies and greets the friends. Musetta instructs Marcello to sell her earrings to pay for medicine and a doctor. Colline leaves to pawn his overcoat. Alone with Rodolfo, Mimì expresses her boundless love for him. He shows her the bonnet and they reminisce about their first meeting. The others return with a muff and medicine, promising that a doctor will come. Mimì dies unnoticed while they are preparing her medicine. Colline arrives with money from the pawnbroker, but it is too late.

This synopsis was originally printed in the program of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

Program book

Go inside this production of La bohème with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

View Digital Program Book

Meet the artists

Maria Agresta

Mimì

Maria Agresta is acclaimed as one of the most remarkable Italian singers of her generation.

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Michael Fabiano

Rodolfo

American tenor Michael Fabiano is a winner of both the Richard Tucker Award and the Beverly Sills Artist Award, the American tenor premiered Richard Jones’s Bohème production to open the 2017/18 Royal Opera House season at London’s Covent Garden.

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Danielle de Niese

Musetta

(Oct 6-20, Jan 13-22)

Danielle de Niese is an internationally celebrated Australian-born American soprano.

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Ann Toomey

Musetta

(Jan 10, Jan 25-31)

American soprano and Ryan Opera Center member Ann Toomey has performed four roles at Lyric since 2016|17.

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Zachary Nelson

Marcello

Baritone Zachary Nelson's Lyric credits include Marcello/La boheme (2018|19), Ping/Turandot (2017|18)

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Ricardo José Rivera

Schaunard

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Puerto Rican baritone Ricardo José Rivera, was a three-year member of the Ryan Opera Center.

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Adrian Sâmpetrean

Colline

Bass Adrian Sampetrean's Lyric credits include Colline/La boheme (2018|19) and Sir Giorgio Walton/I puritani (2017|18)

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Jake Gardner

Benoît & Alcindoro

American bass-baritone Jake Gardner's Lyric credits include Benoit, Alcindoro/La boheme (2018|19)

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Mario Rojas

Parpignol

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Tenor Mario Rojas was a member of the Ryan Opera Center for three years.

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Uniting Voices Chicago

Uniting Voices Chicago is the nation’s preeminent youth choral organization, serving 5,200 students across the city of Chicago.

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Domingo Hindoyan

Conductor

Venezuelan conductor Domingo Hindoyan made his Lyric debut with La boheme (2018|19)

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Stefano Sarzani

Conductor

(Jan. 31)

Stefano Sarzani is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.

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Richard Jones

Director

British director Richard Jones was the original director of The Queen of Spades and Ariodante at Lyric Opera

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Stewart Laing

Designer

Set and Costume designer Stewart Laing made his Lyric debut with La boheme (2018|19)

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Mimi Jordan Sherin

Lighting Designer

Lighting designer Mimi Jordan Sherin's Lyric credits include La boheme and Ariodante (2018|19) and Tristan und Isolde (1999|00)

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Michael Black

Chorus Master

Michael Black has served Lyric Opera of Chicago since the 2013/14 Season.

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Josephine Lee

Children's Chorus Master

Josephine Lee, the president and artistic director of Uniting Voices Chicago has revolutionized youth choral music.

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